Closure assembly



June 9, 1964 H. E. KU-EHN CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 31. 1962 WE m Wa 2 m W0 .mflww i H w United States Patent 3,136,439 CLUSURE ASEMBLY Harry E. Kuehn, 10 Frost Place, Albany, N.Y. Filed Aug. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 220,750 7 Claims. (Cl. 215-39) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved closure assembly involving a receptacle to contain a liquid, such as a beverage, and a seal or cap for that receptacle.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a closure assembly by means of which the exterior portions of the receptacle adjacent the pouring lip of the latter will be maintained in a clean and sterile condition; the interior of the receptacle and its contents being likewise maintained in a condition such that they will not be contaiminated.

An additional object is that of designing a structure of this nature in which the user will have no difiiculty in unsealing or rescaling the receptacle without it being necessary to employ opening or closing tools for this purpose.

Still another object is that of furnishing a closure assembly involving a simple design, the components of which may be economically produced; the closure remaining effective for indefinite periods of time, not alone during storage of the filled receptacle, but also as the latter is transported and subjected to vibration.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of a receptacle and showing the same in sealed condition;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view taken along the line 22 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the closure in process of removal from the receptacle;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary transverse sectional views in enlarged scale taken, respectively, along the lines 4-4 and 5-5 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, taken along the line 66 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 3.

While the receptacle may be of any desired type, it will ordinarily embrace a bottle such as is employed to contain beer, carbonated soft drinks or uncarbonated liquids. Accordingly, such a receptacle has been shown in the drawings. This, however, is to be considered as merely illustrative in that the invention is equally applicable to receptacles such as jars containing liquids, preserves, flavoring extracts, etc.

Thus, the numeral 10 indicates the neck portion of a receptacle, the upper end of which terminates in a pouring lip 11. The outer surface of the receptacle neck below this lip is preferably channeled along a rather large radius as indicated at 12. Surface 12 provides an elongated concave exterior portion extending downwardly from the lip. The surface thus provided is contactable by the lips of the user if a beverage contained within the receptacle is to be directly consumed from the latter. Below this surface the face of the receptacle may be formed with a groove 13 extending throughout its entire circumference. The upper side wall of this groove embraces an angular bead 14, the edge of which is rounded.

The receptacle is closed by a cap. The latter may be formed of various materials. It is preferred that aluminum be employed for this purpose. The cap will include an upper portion 15 preferably presenting a concave exterior surface and having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pouring lip 11. Whereas is usual 1y necessarya seal is provided to conform to the irregufiddfifi Patented June 9, 1964 larities of the pouring lip 11, a layer 16 of suitable material is applied to the inner face of the cap surface and interposed between the same and the pouring lip. The diameter of this layer should be slightly in excess of the diameter of the concave top portion 15.

Beyond that portion the cap is continued in the form of a downwardly curved head part 17 terminating in a corrugated area 18 embracing a zone of flexibility. These corrugations as well as the head will present areas such as shown in FIG. 2 that will entirely clear the surface 12. Accordingly, the cap incorporates a hood adjacent the lower end of which it is formed with a groove 19 presenting a base diameter substantially equal to that of head 14. In the space between that groove and the lower edge of the cap, crimps 20 are formed in the latter. The base portions of these crimps bear against the base of groove 13.

Accordingly, the zone of the cap adjacent its lower edge embodies resiliency such that the hood portion tends to constrict to thus assure the maintenance of the detent structure furnished by cooperation of the bead 14 and groove 19. Therefore, the cap will not tend to shift with respect to the receptacle and, consequently, unseal the latter. It will be appreciated that a groove 13 need not necessarily be incorporated in the receptacle in that a relatively grooved or recessed portion will exist at this point incident to the projecting bead 14. In any event, and as shown especially in FIGS. 2 and 3, the user desiring to gain access to the receptacle and its contents will only have to exert digital pressure against the lower area of the corrugated zone 18 at one point in its circumference to exert leverage such that groove 19 will override head 14. Under these circumstances the corrugations will be somewhat compressed in line with the thrust force exerted and the leverage relationship established by that zone of the cap with reference to those portions of the same remaining in contact with the receptacle will be quickly destroyed.

Therefore the cap may be readily removed from the receptacle. Due to the inherent resiliency incorporated in the cap as a consequence of the area of head portion 17 and the corrugations 18 all parts will reestablish their initial relationship after detachment of the cap. Accordingly, if desired, the closure assembly may be again rendered effective by simply reversing the foregoing procedure. Under those circumstances the channeled surface 12 would again be protected by the hood structure forming a part of the cap.

Under all circumstances with the upper zone of the cap and body concavity as indicated at 15, not alone will the cap be strengthened but the effectiveness of the seal will be increased in the area of the pouring lip. That seal will be yieldingly pressed in engagement with the receptacle as a consequence of the resiliency afforded by the parts embraced in the hood area of the cap. While a fiat surface could intervene bead 14 and the pouring lip, it will be understood that a channeled surface is preferred which conforms to the curvature of the users lip when drinking directly from the receptacle. The channel or groove 19, in addition to retaining the cap in position, serves as a reenforcement preventing a permanent opening of the corrugations defining the crimped zone 20. It also furnishes a part of a hinge structure in cooperation with the bead and which functions as a pivot around which the cap is swung during sealing and opening operations.

It is also preferred to have the bore surface of the receptacle or the neck thereof at a point adjacent its outer end formed with recessed surfaces 21 rather than incorporating a cylindrical surface. The lower end of the well area thus created may conveniently terminate in an inwardly extending flange 22. This flange creates in effect a dam enabling the user to control the flow of liquid past the pouring lip. Obviously, the configuration of this zone might be modified as desired.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. It will be apparent that numerous changes in construction andrearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a cap providing a sealing means for sealingly closing a receptacle of the type having a peripheral circular pouring lip formed at its upper zone, an elongated exterior portion adjacent said pouring lip and extending downwardly therefrom, a groove beneath said elongated exterior portion, and a circular bead formed on its exterior between said elongated portion and said groove forming the upper side wall of said groove, that improvement consisting of, an upper relatively rigid portion of said cap sealingly'embracing said pouring lip, a head portion of said cap extending downwardly from said upper portion in spaced relationship with said elongated exterior portion, a corrugated portion of said cap providing a zone of flexibility extending from said head and spaced from said elongated exterior portion, and a crimped lower edge of said cap embracing said receptacle within said groove.

2. A cap structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said bead is rounded and said cap is formed with a groove between said corrugated portion and said lower edge having a base diameter substantially equal to that of said bead.

3. A closure assembly including in combination a receptacle, a peripheral circular pouring lip formed at the upper zone of said receptacle, an elongated exterior portion of said receptacle adjacent to said pouring lip and extending downwardly therefrom, a groove formed in the exterior of said receptacle beneath said elongated exterior portion, a circular bead formed on the exterior of said receptacle between said elongated portion and said groove forming the upper side wall of said groove, a cap closing said receptacle, an upper relatively rigid portion of said cap sealingly embracing said pouring lip, a head part of said cap extending downwardly from said upper portion in spaced relationship with said elongated exterior portion, a corrugated portion of said .cap providing a zone of flexibility extending from said head and spaced from said elongated exterior portion and a crimped lower edge of said cap embracing said receptacle within said groove.

4. An assembly in accordance with claim 3 in which said bead is rounded and said cap is formed with a groove between said corrugated portionand said lower edge having a base diameter substantially equal to that of said bead.

5. An assembly in accordance with claim 4 in which said elongated exterior portion presents a concave exterior surface.

6. In a receptacle which is to be sealingly closed by a cap having an upper relatively rigid portion, a head part extending downwardly 'from said upper portion, a corrugated portion providing a zone of flexibility extending from said head and a crimped lower edge, that improvement consisting of. a peripheral circular pouring lip formed at the upper zone of said receptacle, an elongated exterior portion of said receptacle adjacent said pouring lip and extending downwardly therefrom, a groove formed in the exterior of said receptacle beneath said elongated exterior portion, a circular bead formed on the exterior of said receptacle between said elongated portion and said groove forming the upper side wall of said groove, said upper portion of said cap sealingly embracing said pouring lip with said head part of said cap in spaced relationship with said elongated exterior portion, said corrugated portion being spaced from said elongated exterior portion and said crimped lower edge ofsaid cap embracingsaid receptacle within said groove.

7. A receptacle in accordance with claim 6 in which said elongated exterior portion presents a concave exterior surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,961,872 Colombani June 5, 1934 2,659,507 Jonker Nov. 17, 1953 3,057,501 Kroenert Oct. 9, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 194,164 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1938 

3. A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A RECEPTACLE, A PERIPHERAL CIRCULAR POURING LIP FORMED AT THE UPPER ZONE OF SAID RECEPTACLE, AN ELONGATED EXTERIOR PORTION OF SAID RECEPTACLE ADJACENT TO SAID POURING LIP AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, A GROOVE FORMED IN THE EXTERIOR OF SAID RECEPTACLE BENEATH SAID ELONGATED EXTERIOR PORTION, A CIRCULAR BEAD FORMED ON THE EXTERIOR OF SAID RECEPTACLE BETWEEN SAID ELONGATED PORTION AND SAID GROOVE FORMING THE UPPER SIDE WALL OF SAID GROOVE, A CAP CLOSING SAID RECEPTACLE, AN UPPER RELATIVELY RIGID PORTION OF SAID CAP SEALINGLY EMBRACING SAID POURING LIP, A HEAD PART OF SAID CAP EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID UPPER PORTION IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID ELONGATED EXTERIOR PORTION, A CORRUGATED PORTION OF SAID CAP PROVIDING A ZONE OF FLEXIBILITY EXTENDING FROM SAID HEAD AND SPACED FROM SAID ELONGATED EXTERIOR PORTION AND A CRIMPED LOWER EDGE OF SAID CAP EMBRACING SAID RECEPTACLE WITHIN SAID GROOVE. 